Insider: Fat Brad magazine
Ever noticed how Brad Pitt is always eating on camera? We certainly have. That’s why, when Fat Brad magazine arrived at our desks last week, we knew it was going to be a cheeky one — this is a recipe book devoted to the meals Brad Pitt eats in his films.
From the Lobster bisque (or pissque) in Fight Club, to the Heartburn Burger in Oceans 11, and the disembodied breakfast spread from Mr. and Mrs. Smith, it is filled with ace photography of borderline edible meals, infamous movie lines, and cooking instructions that you should only try with a (figurative) grain of salt.
We spoke to the magazine’s publishers, Long Prawn, to find out more about the makings of this issue.
In this issue we…
Expored…
More so than any on-screen actor, Brad Pitt chomps his way through many of his characters. It pricked our interest so much we were starving to explore it. Something that started as a little quirk quickly turned into an exhaustive spreadsheet of films and foods we needed to expand on. This was something we knew we couldn’t half bake, so we assembled a crack team of cooks and creatives to make it steamy. Some of the morsels we dreamed up for Brad and others he ate verbatim. This is the first of many interruption cookbooks by Long Prawn which cook up pop culture.
Listened to…
It wasn’t enough to just eat like the movies. Movie soundtracks became our photoshoot staples, and lines from the movie were often thrown around. Our favourite soundtrack would have to be Snatch, which also allowed us to throw around lacklustre cockney accents. Lucky Star by Madonna does it every time. Another close contender would be Fight Club’s soundtrack.
Ate…
To make a ball of chewy worthy of a photo one must eat about three packets of multicoloured gum, and by the second packet we had the jaw definition of a runway model. Films are made from take after take, so never underestimate the jaw power Brad must have to keep this gig up.
Couldn’t stop laughing when…
We were Spreading Sally Hansen fake tan and spray canola oil all over our Brad body double.
Argued about…
Maybe not argument but hot debate ensued regarding the legitimacy of certain shots. Should the Heartburn Burger be sunny and bright? Or overcast like the scene is? In the end we always settled for what was in the best essence of the film; it’s a fantasy cookbook after all. This freed us up to go OTT and break the restraints of rigid film continuity.
Sacrificed…
Many a good meal. As the studio lights beat down and food styling tricks of the trade are implemented things become inedible, all in the name of Brad. We actually used real poison mixed with vodka for the Draino Martini from Mr & Mrs Smith.
Worked from…
A furniture restoration warehouse-cum-studio that was, at the time, utilising the un-restored furniture to form an underground cinema (once).
Wished that…
We were able to include more! A recipe from Interview with a Vampire for dinuguan (Filipino stew) or a recipe for Meet Joe Black’s unforgettable peanut butter moment. We have a long list of future Brad meals.
And everyone should buy a copy because…
You will always be in Brad’s shadow, but at least this way you can eat like him.
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